Product handling equipment

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for presenting a marshalled product group (bakery rolls, meat patties, auto mirrors, records and the like) to a film packaging system which maintains the predetermined marshalling or corrects problems therein and which involves an elevator which accepts and established the final marshalling and elevates the group to a pusher, and a reciprocating pusher which moves the marshalled group into the film packaging system and the method therefor. A single pusher control chain with sensor and timing systems responsive thereto is also provided.

United States Patent 1191 Schmidt, Sr. et al.

PRODUCT HANDLING EQUIPMENT Inventors: Albert S. Schmidt, Sr.,

Wormleysburg; Frank M. Irving, Jr., York; Ronald G. Andrus,Wrightsville; Sherwood F. Amy,

York, all of Pa.

Assignee: Alto Corporation, York, Pa.

Filed: Feb. 3, 1972 Appl. No.: 223,225

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 124,143, March 15,1971, abandoned.

US. Cl .1. 53/26, 53/61, 53/74, 53/147 Int. Cl..... B65b 5/06, B65b57/10, B65b 57/12 Field of Search 53/26, 28, 33, 133, 53/182, 228, 229,147, 74, 59, 159, 152, 61

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1967 Reinecke 53/152 X Sept.25, 1973 3,585,777 6/l97l Pesch 53/26 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONSPrimary Examiner--Othel1 M. Simpson Assistant ExaminerE. F. DesmondAtt0rneyThomas Hooker [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for presenting amarshalled product group (bakery rolls, meat patties, auto mirrors,records and the like) to a film packaging system which maintains thepredetermined marshalling or corrects problems therein and whichinvolves an elevator which accepts and established the final marshallingand elevates the group to a pusher, and a reciprocating pusher whichmoves the marshalled group into the film packaging system and the methodtherefor. A single pusher control chain with sensor and timing systemsresponsive thereto is also provided.

5 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 1 PRODUCT HANDLING EQUIPMENT CROSSREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation ofapplicants ap plication Ser. No. 124,143, filed Mar. 15, 1971, nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the bakery field, particularly, equipmentmust be sanitary. Overhead conveyors for moving a perfectly marshalledgroup to a packaging station have involved complicated conveyors.Sequential mechanisms for coordinating the steps of the system have beenponderous. Normal upkeep of equipment has been sacrificed to the desiredhigh sanitary standards required. The handling of cooled (discrete)rolls for packaging systems has required, for example, a transverse rowof five across and a grouping of three transverse rows. Meeting thisneed has involved many approaches. The sanitary problem has been severedue to required maintenance. 7

Products, such as hamburger and hot dog buns have been marshalled intovarious groups. The rolls or products are first marshalled, that is theyare aligned into three transverse rows with each row having five rollsacross the length thereof making a group of rolls. The system takes thisgroup of 15 rolls and elevates it 3 or 4 inches to a location where apusher moves the group forwardly into a film packaging system. A key tothe system lies in a switch and drive chain unit which controls theentire system through the operation of sensors responsive to theposition of the chain. Additional sensors are provided which sense theposition of rolls moving to the elevator and the position of rolls atthe forward end of the elevated elevator. The sensors may be electriceyes. One electric eye operates to activate the film feed when rolls arepresent.

The roll grouper includes a gate and a hold down which cooperate topermit movement of a single group of rolls to the elevator. The gatemoves outwardly and upwardly as it releases a group and then verticallydownwardly and backwardly upon return to the closed position.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, of which there are four sheets.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partially broken away side view of a marshalling andpackaging system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and also partially broken away side view of themarshalling and sealing portions of the apparatus showing the elevatorin the down position and the pusher in the retracted dwell position;

FIG. 3 is like FIG. 2 showing the elevator in the up position and thepusher extended beyond the sealing zone with the film being fed by asystem of feed rollers and being pulled by the sealing conveyor;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the drive chain showing the drive motor andelectric eyes which coordinate the operation of the apparatus;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the grouper respectively at rest, with thegate open and the restrainer holding the rolls, and with the restrainerup and the gate on the way down during refilling;

FIGS. 8 thru 1 1 illustrate the steps during the sealing operation; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the slotted elevator for receiptof the thin delivery belts and two sets of side guides for transversealignment of the group to be sealed.

Apparatus 65 illustrated in FIG. 1, includes a support structure 66along which the rolls are moved from left to right. The rolls aresupplied to a roll divider chute 11 which aligns rolls in a numberoflongitudinal extending rows. A conveyor moves the rows of rolls fromthe chute to grouper 12, the operation of which is illustrated at FIGS.5 thru 7. Groups of rolls are periodically released from grouper 12 andare carried downstream by conveyors 74 and 67, until they engage theslotted rear aligner plate 22 of raise elevator conveyor 21. Sideconveyor guides 31 are provided to either side of the conveyor 67 toconfine the groups of rolls upon the conveyor.

Upon lowering of elevator conveyor 21, conveyor 67 moves a group ofrolls '68 on to the top surface 69 thereof. Fixed stop plate 71 preventsfurther downstream movement of the group. The elevator may then beraised to the position of FIG. 3 so that movement of pusher 17 from theretracted position of FIG. 2 to the extended position of FIG. 3, pushesthe group into end sealer system 15. At the same time film feed 61 isacutated to advance the transversely sealed web 72 as indicated in FIG.3. Upon retraction of the pusher 17, operation of the end sealing system15 as illustrated in FIGS. 8 thru 11 provides an end seal for thepackaged group of rolls. The end sealing operation reseals the ends ofthe plastic films or sheets to reform the transversely sealed web 72.Sealing conveyor 16 moves the partially sealed group of rolls past sidesealer 18 to boxing station 19.

The operation of grouper 12 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7 whichshow one of a number of rows of rolls as it is moved through thegrouper. Rows of rolls 73 are moved to the grouper by conveyor 74. Asensing switch 33 is provided for each row to sense whether or not thereis a supply of rolls in the row. Switches 33 are connected together inseries to provide an indication if rolls are missing from any of therows. The presence of rolls is sensed by a probe as illustrated.

Pivotal restrainer 35 engages the front or downstream roll in each rowof rolls upstream from the group 68 held by gate 34 as shown in FIG. 5.The restrainer extends laterally to engage each lead roll. A gate 34extends across the rows immediately above the conveyor to preventdownstream movement of the rolls by continuously moving conveyor 74. Theends of the gate are connected to rotatable cranks 75 whereby uponactuation of the crank drive to permit a one half revolution of thecranks in the direction indicated, the gate is raised to permit thedownstream or lead group of rolls to pass thereunder. As the gate israised it is moved downstream somewhat to prevent binding between thelower edge of the gate and the upper surface of the lead rolls. Gatesensor 50 is located immediately downstream of the gate and operates tosense passing of the group 68 through the gate. Upon passing of thegroup the sensor actuates the crank drive to rotate cranks 75 throughanother half revolution to relower the gate to the closed position.After the gate is closed, restrainer 35 is raised thereby permitting thenext group of rolls to be moved up against the gate 34 by a conveyor 74.The restrainer is then lowered to hold the upstream rolls.

The released group 68 is carried through a slicer 14, if provided, andto the rear aligner plate 22 of the raised elevator conveyor 21. Thegroup of rolls is moved to the aligner plate by thin conveyor belts 55,as illustrated in FIG. 12, which extend into slots 56 in the alignerplate 22 and elevator top plate 69. In this way the elevator may befreely raised and lowered without interfering with the belts. As shownin FIG. 2 belts 55 extend above the slotted upstream part of the plate69 when the plate is in the down position. Side con veyor guides 31confine the rolls on the conveyor 57.

Pusher 17 is mounted on fixed horizontal slide bars 57 by means ofsuitable bearings to permit movement thereof along the bars between theretracted position of FIG. 2 and the extended position of FIG. 3.Control chain 5 extends around three sprocket gears 76 locatedon support66 above the bars 57. A drive motor 77 rotates one of the sprocket gearsto drive the chain clockwise as shown in FIG. 4. Link 90 on the drivechain 5 is connected to the top of the pusher 17 by means of a suitableconnection whereby upstream and downstream movement of the link istransmitted to the pusher. FIG. 4 is a partially broken away generalizedtop view showing the chain 5, sprockets 76 and bars 57 with indicationsof the positions of the pusher and elevator with regard to the locationof the link 90.

At the start of the cycle of operation link 90 is located at 84 oppositecycle reset switch which is triggered thereby to set up the suitableelectrical circuits and timing apparatus. In this position the pusher isnearly retracted and, as indicated, the elevator 21 is down or lowered.The elevator is filled with a group of rolls. This start position isillustrated in FIG. 2.

Upon actuation of switch 10 motor 77 drives the chain 5 to move link 90along chain run 78 during which time the pusher is retracted and theelevator is raised to the position of FIG. 3 by suitable raising andlowering means 79. Further movement on the link 90 around the largesprocket gear and along run 80 advances the pusher to the position ofFIG. 3 thereby moving the group of rolls from the elevator into the endsealing system 15, between the sides of the transversely sealed web 72and on to the moving sealing conveyor 16. Movement of the link 90 pastthe sensor actuates the grouper 12, provided that the series orientedsensor switches 33 indicate that a supply of rolls is provided in eachrow. The grouper releases the next group of rolls 68 whereby the thinconveyor belts 55 move the same downstream so that it rests against therear aligner plate 22 of the raised elevator conveyor 21 as illustratedin FIG. 3. Movement of the rolls into the end sealer system 15 triggerssensor 60 to actuate the film feed 61 thereby allowing the center of thesealed web 72 to move downstream with the rolls between the two sheetsof the web.

When the link 90 is moved to position 81 the pusher has moved the groupof rolls completely from the elevator so that the elevator may belowered to receive the next group on upper support plate 69. Overfeedingof the group on the support plate by the conveyor belts 55 is preventedby fixed backing plate 71. Conveyor side guides 37 retain the rolls onplate 69.

Movement of the link past film feed switch 30 trips the same todeactivate the film feed. The film feed is deactivated at the end of theforward or feed stroke of the pusher thereby allowing the film web 72 tobe drawn taut by the sealing conveyor as the pusher is withdrawn fromthe rolls. Movement of the link 90 past point 82 begins the retractionof the pusher back from the fed rolls. When the link reaches point 83 itactuates switch 40 to initate the end sealer system 15 as illustrated inFIGS. 8 thru 11. Continued movement of the chain retracts the pusher andbrings the link back to the position 84 opposite switch 10. When thepusher is retracted link 90 trips sealer switch 40 to initiate thesealing and cutting operation as illustrated in FIGS. 8 thru 11. Thissealing and cutting operation can be in accordance with the disclosureof Fehre et al., US. Pat. No. 3,508,378 of Apr. 28, 1970, wherein thetwo layer film is first gripped, two longitudinally spaced andtransversely extending end seals are made between the gripping portions,following which the portions of the film between the seals is severed.This operation is more clearly illustrated in the figures. Other sealingand cutting operations may be used.

The sealing and cutting operation is initiated with the web 72 in theposition of FIG. 3 and with the pusher l7 retracted from the end sealersystem 15. The upper sealing tooling 85 is lowered toward the lowersealing tooling 86 so that the spaced and laterally extending clampmembers 87 hold the sheets together against the lower tooling. Furthermovement of the upper tooling toward the lower tooling seats sealing bar88 against the lower tooling to form a pair of laterally extendingspaced seals 89. Following formation of seals 89 cutter 91 confined in arecess 92 between the sealing members of sealing bar 88, is moved into arecess 93 in the lower tooling so as to sever theunsealed portions ofthe two strips between seals 89.

After sealing and severing the upper tooling is raised as in FIG. 11thereby permitting the sealing conveyor 16 to move the partially sealedgroup of rolls past side sealer 18 which seals together the sheets atthe sides of the group. The conveyor then deposits the completely sealedgroup of rolls at boxing station 19. Upon return of the link to position84, the apparatus 65 is returned to the position of FIG. 2 whereby thecycle of operation may be repeated.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of ourinvention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and wetherefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth,but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fallwithin the purview of the following claims.

We claim:

1. The method of handling articles'comprising longitudinally moving apre-established packaging unit on to an elevator; raising the elevatorto place said unit at a predetermined level; pushing said elevated unitlongitudinally forwardly into a packaging system; moving a secondpackaging unit toward said elevator while said elevator is raised;lowering said elevator when the pushing step is at its forward position;and establishing a packaging unit for delivery to the elevator includingaccepting and stopping a pair of packaging units at a grouper zone, inresponse to the elevator rising causing the forward packaging unit tomove longitudinally forwardly toward the elevator while detaining theimmediately rearward packaging unit, identifying the complete passage ofthe forward packaging unit past a predetermined point and then inresponse thereto causing the detained rearward packaging unit to moveforward to the forward part of the grouper zone for residence until saidelevator is again raised.

2. A method of handling packaging units comprising longitudinally movinga pre-established packaging unit on to an elevator; raising the elevatorto place said unit at a predetermined level; pushing said elevated unitlongitudinally forwardly into a system for packaging; and moving asecond packaging unit toward said elevator while said elevator israised; stopping an immediately trailing second packaging unit at theupstream end of the elevator for delivery to the elevator upon itsreturn to its down position; sensing the presence of a packaging unitbeing pushed downstream of the elevator when in elevated positon andactuating the system in response to said sensing to thereby package saidfirst packaging unit; lowering said elevator when the pushing step is atits forward position and extablishing a packaging unit for delivery tothe elevator including accepting and stopping a pair of packaging unitsat a grouper zone; in response to the elevator raising causing theforward packaging unit to move longitudinally forwardly toward theelevator while detaining the immediately rearward packaging unit;identifying the completed passage of the forward packaging unit past apre-determined point and then in response thereto causing the detainedrearward packaging unit to move forward to the forward part of thegrouper zone for residence until said elevator is again raised.

3. A packaging apparatus comprising an elevator having a top plate forholding a packaging unit, belt delivery means for moving a packagingunit forwardly on to said top plate when the elevator is in the downposition, a pusher positioned above said elevator, first means formoving said elevator upwardly to an elevated position to place saidpackaging unit in front of the pusher, means for horizontallyreciprocating said pusher forwardly and rearwardly, removal means inhorizontal alignment with the elevated position of said top plate forreceiving said unit upon forward discharge by the pusher from theelevated top plate, a depending slotted plate extending downwardly fromthe upstream edge of said top plate for arresting movement of apackaging unit at the upstream edge of said elevator when the elevatoris not in full down position, said top plate including an upstreamslotted portion forming an extension of the slots in said slotted plateand a downstream lift support portion for receiving the product unitfrom the belt delivery means, and said belt delivery means including atransverse set of thin belts fitted within the slots in said plates andextending above the surface of said upstream portion of said top platewhen the elevator is in the down position to ensure full delivery of thepackaging unit to the downstream portion of the top plate whilepermitting elevation of the plate relative to the belt delivery means.

4. A packaging apparatus comprising an elevator having a top plate forsupporting a packaging unit, belt delivery means for moving a packagingunit forwardly on to said top plate when the elevator is in the downposition, a pusher positioned above the elevator, first means for movingsaid elevator upwardly to an elevated position to place said packagingunit in front of the pusher, means for horizontally reciprocating saidpusher forwardly and rearwardly including a triangular horizontallydisposed drive chain extending around three sprocket gears, means fordriving the chain around said gears, a link between the chain and thepusher, movement ofa link along two legs of said chain path operating tomove the pusher forwardly and to retract said pusher and movement of thelink along the remaining leg of said chain operating to dwell theretracted pusher, removal means in horizontal alignment with theelevated positon of said top plate for receiving said product unit uponforward discharge by the pusher from the elevated top plate, and sensorresponsive actuating means for controlling the operation of theapparatus.

5. A packaging apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said chain is disposed ina right triangle and a short dwell leg extends perpendicular to thedirection of movement of said pusher.

1. The method of handling articles comprising longitudinally moving apre-established packaging unit on to an elevator; raising the elevatorto place said unit at a predetermined level; pushing said elevated unitlongitudinally forwardly into a packaging system; moving a secondpackaging unit toward said elevator while said elevator is raised;lowering said elevator when the pushing step is at its forward position;and establishing a packaging unit for delivery to the elevator includingaccepting and stopping a pair of packaging units at a grouper zone, inresponse to the elevator rising causing the forward packaging unit tomove longitudinally forwardly toward the elevator while detaining theimmediately rearward packaging unit, identifying the complete passage ofthe forward packaging unit past a predetermined point and then inresponse thereto causing the detained rearward packaging unit to moveforward to the forward part of the grouper zone for residence until saidelevator is again raised.
 2. A method of handling packaging unitscomprising longitudinally moving a pre-established packaging unit on toan elevator; raising the elevator to place said unit at a predeterminedlevel; pushing said elevated unit longitudinally forwardly into a systemfor packaging; and moving a second packaging unit toward said elevatorwhile said elevator is raised; stopping an immediately trailing secondpackaging unit at the upstream end of the elevator for delivery to theelevator upon its return to its down position; sensing the presence of apackaging unit being pushed downstream of the elevator when in elevatedpositon and actuating the system in response to said sensing to therebypackage said first packaging unit; lowering said elevator when thepushing step is at its forward position and extablishing a packagingunit for delivery to the elevator including accepting and stopping apair Of packaging units at a grouper zone; in response to the elevatorraising causing the forward packaging unit to move longitudinallyforwardly toward the elevator while detaining the immediately rearwardpackaging unit; identifying the completed passage of the forwardpackaging unit past a pre-determined point and then in response theretocausing the detained rearward packaging unit to move forward to theforward part of the grouper zone for residence until said elevator isagain raised.
 3. A packaging apparatus comprising an elevator having atop plate for holding a packaging unit, belt delivery means for moving apackaging unit forwardly on to said top plate when the elevator is inthe down position, a pusher positioned above said elevator, first meansfor moving said elevator upwardly to an elevated position to place saidpackaging unit in front of the pusher, means for horizontallyreciprocating said pusher forwardly and rearwardly, removal means inhorizontal alignment with the elevated position of said top plate forreceiving said unit upon forward discharge by the pusher from theelevated top plate, a depending slotted plate extending downwardly fromthe upstream edge of said top plate for arresting movement of apackaging unit at the upstream edge of said elevator when the elevatoris not in full down position, said top plate including an upstreamslotted portion forming an extension of the slots in said slotted plateand a downstream lift support portion for receiving the product unitfrom the belt delivery means, and said belt delivery means including atransverse set of thin belts fitted within the slots in said plates andextending above the surface of said upstream portion of said top platewhen the elevator is in the down position to ensure full delivery of thepackaging unit to the downstream portion of the top plate whilepermitting elevation of the plate relative to the belt delivery means.4. A packaging apparatus comprising an elevator having a top plate forsupporting a packaging unit, belt delivery means for moving a packagingunit forwardly on to said top plate when the elevator is in the downposition, a pusher positioned above the elevator, first means for movingsaid elevator upwardly to an elevated position to place said packagingunit in front of the pusher, means for horizontally reciprocating saidpusher forwardly and rearwardly including a triangular horizontallydisposed drive chain extending around three sprocket gears, means fordriving the chain around said gears, a link between the chain and thepusher, movement of a link along two legs of said chain path operatingto move the pusher forwardly and to retract said pusher and movement ofthe link along the remaining leg of said chain operating to dwell theretracted pusher, removal means in horizontal alignment with theelevated positon of said top plate for receiving said product unit uponforward discharge by the pusher from the elevated top plate, and sensorresponsive actuating means for controlling the operation of theapparatus.
 5. A packaging apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said chain isdisposed in a right triangle and a short dwell leg extends perpendicularto the direction of movement of said pusher.